Found a Neat Old Mod 10 no dash. Some Questions

[Col Defender]

Hi

This gun in a local dealer's. Model 10 no dash SN460xx with a 4 or 5 inch barrel and rubber Hogue Grips and further marked "CAI St Albans Vt."
I did not see a SN prefix on the yoke and we did not pull the grips to look on the butt.

Can anyone pin down the shipment date?

The finish is hard to evaluate. It is basically blued but the finish is mottled in appearance so that the metal on the frame, barrel, cylinder and side plate looks almost like the case hardened trigger and hammer. But when I got home I noticed in my SWSC that that is how the pictures in the book look. Were the early Model 10's finished in something other than a standard blue?

Mechanically fine I think, including the bore. Probably carried a bunch by a Vermont LEO but not shot much.

Dealer wants $320 but I suppose I could have it for $300.

So what do you guys think?

Thanks

Steve

 

[snw19_357]

I did not see a SN prefix on the yoke and we did not pull the grips to look on the butt.

The serial number would not be located on the yoke. On certain models it could also be on the frame in the yoke cut but on a model marked M10, it should only be on the butt. It should have a "C" prefix.

 

[scha]

The marking CAI St Albans VT is the mark of the firm that imported this revolver back to the US. This could be an old Military revolver if the finish is parkerized. What markings are on the barrel? What is the full serial number on the butt of the frame? Is there a serial number on the bottom of the barrel or on the back of the cylinder? This will help positively identify this revolver.

Steve

 

[Art Doc]

Are you SURE this is a Model 10? Many people have a habit of calling all the Military & Police Models "Model 10" even though that designation would not be correct until 1957 when model numbers began.

The only way to be sure is to look for the model number here:

And the serial number here (any letters present are part of the number):

Also, "a 4 or 5 inch barrel" is not exactly precise information.

The import stamp suggests it is a gun sold to a foreign country and brought back. I will go out on a limb and say that it is most likely a Military & Police Model with a 5" barrel made in 38 S&W caliber used by Great Britain during WW II that has been modified and reamed for the longer 38 Special cartridge. Many thousands of these are out there and in my opinion they should not be fired with 38 Special ammo (correct 38 S&W is OK) and are worth $100 - $200 depending on condition. More than that and you are much better off seeking a commercial M&P or Model 10 in 38 Special.

PS: I hope that in no way was my response insulting or obnoxious.

 

[Col Defender]

Thanks for the info so far! No, Saxon_pig I am not the least bit insulted. Maybe the number I saw on the yoke was an assembly number. I'll look at the gun again. BUT IT IS DEFINITELY A MODEL 10 NO DASH. Clearly marked so on the yoke. Still don't understand the finish. If you look in your SWSC on page 174 you can easily see the uneven blue finish and that is exactly what the gun in the store looks like.

Steve

 

[scha]

The guns shown on page 174 are plain blue finish. I think the mottled appearance is due to reflections from the photography. Cleaning carefully would produce a smooth even finish in my opinion. Does the gun in the store appear clean or does it have a slight oily finish?

If it is marked Mod 10 in the frame, then it was produced in 1957-1960 or so and the serial number should begin with a C.

Hope this helps.

Steve

 

[Combat]

I have two model 10 no dashes,a two inch and a four inch.They both have the standard even blue finish.

 

[H Richard]

I believe a Mod 10 no dash should have a "C" prefix S/N. I have a Mod 10 no dash that was shipped Oct. 1959 and it is a 4 screw. S/N is C 4593XX. If this is any help.

 

[Col Defender]

More Thanks

Today I was in a hurry and did not have good light. (And I still have a lot to learn.)

I will try to visit the gun again tomorrow, pull the grips, measure the barrel, count the screws (there is no trigger guard screw so I'm thinking that rules out 5 screws and there is no screw high on the side plate so it is probably 3 screws unless there is one hiding under the Hogues. But I'll make sure tomorrow.) And I will copy carefully all the markings on the gun.

And if he will let me, I might even try dropping a .38 S&W and a .38 Special cartridge into the cylinder to see what the caliber really is. Though I'm thinking that all real Mod 10's are ,38 Special.

Steve

 

[walnutred]

The caliber should be marked on the barrel. If the barrel is marked 38 Special there is almost no chance it was converted to 38 S&W ;D. While your looking at numbers the serial number on the butt, bottom of the barrel and rear of the cylinder should all match.

In my part of the country $300 would be too high for the pistol you are describing. That may not be true where yo live though.